The Easiest Slow Cooker Pulled Pork (2024)

FAQs

Do you need liquid in slow cooker for pulled pork? ›

You don't technically HAVE to add liquid into your slow cooker for pulled pork because the pork will generate moisture. However, we do recommend adding some kind of liquid to the crock pot to make sure things stay nice and moist.

Skim the fat off the top of the cooking liquid. For more moist and flavorful pulled pork, you can mix some of the cooking liquid back into the pork. Start with a little, mix, then add more until the pork is as wet or dry as you like. Alternatively, for barbecue pulled pork, you can mix in barbecue sauce.

Pull the pork from the fridge to take the chill off while you chop a few onions and smash garlic cloves. Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy.

Apple cider and apple cider vinegar come together in this dish to give the smoked pork a subtle sweetness and reintroduce some moisture back into the cut of meat. Apple and pork are a classic flavor combo — just think of pork chops and applesauce.

Storing pulled pork

If it is expected to be served within a few hours after smoking, it is better to store it in a crockpot set at the lowest possible temperature. Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot.

Set the cooker to low; the high setting will boil the meat instead of braise it, so it's only a quicker trip to an undesirable outcome. Pork shoulder self-bastes and stays moist, and is nearly impossible to overcook. After the meat is done, the fat can be skimmed off the braising liquid.

The slow cooker makes this a dump and go meal and allows the pork to become tender. The soda helps to tenderize the meat and mellows out the spiciness of the chipotle peppers. It is the opportunity to use your favorite dark soda pop in a savory recipe. Try using Dr Pepper, root beer, cola or cherry cola.

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

Remove the cooking liquid from the slow cooker and skim as much fat as possible. Discard the excess fat (which will float to the top) and then stir the liquid back into the pork to keep it extra moist and flavorful. After skimming the cooking liquid, place the pork back into the slow cooker. Then, shred the pork.

Yes you can cook a pork shoulder in a slow cooker without adding liquid, the pork shoulder has plenty of fat to melt and you will end up with liquid in the pan, I usually cook a pork shoulder directly on the rack of my smoker then transfer it to an aluminum foil pan.

Can you cook pulled pork without liquid? ›

The pork cooks absolutely perfectly without any extra liquid, and the liquid will just make it watery and less flavorful. Shred the meat either with two forks or a hand blender!

For pulled pork, there is good reason to only use a small amount of liquid. Use only enough liquid to come nearly half way up the side of the pork. The pork that is sticking out of the liquid will brown, much like a sear.

A slow cooker does not need any liquid added at the beginning of the cooking process, because it will generate steam, which will become liquid in the bowl. For recipes that use liquid, and have not been written specifically for a slow cooker it make sense to reduce the amount of liquid by half.